The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-09-17
Story OF a Lost Watch.

'For some tlme," said the doctor to a
Philadelphia CaH reporter, Il have been
attending colored man on Wood street
who is confined to his bed by chronic
disorder. There vas no money in the
case, but true physician never thinks
of that, and | kept pegging away at my
man until got him on the turn. Then
he fell back again, and began to think
that his mind was diseased-that is, that
he was brooding over something, and
that plays the mischief with medicine.
\ GU take the case of beautiful girl who
loses her hair from fever. Her recovery
is retarded for weeks if you give her
| looking glass.
"Well, | kept quiet and made myself
friendly, and one day the secret came out.
He waited until he was alone with me,
and then he asked me to go to closet in
the room and hunt up a black stocking.
| did so and handed it to him. and he
took therefrom something that looked
like bundle of rags. Removing the rags
disclosed a roll of paper tied with old
Irvine, and inside was a piece of chamois,
and inside of that a beautiful gold watch.
| had been watching these proceedings
with considerable interest, and when |
saw the watch | jumped at once to the
conclusion that my patient was about to
make restitution for a robbery. | was
mistaken.
"'You's away off, boss, said lie, with
a smile, as he evidently read my thoughts.
I yidn't stole that watch; found IN. |
picked up that watch bout year ago on
the corner of 18th and Market streets,
and l want to give 'um back before |
die. The story looked fishy, but it all
turned out naturally enough when |
questioned him. He found the watch and
| brought it home and told no one about it
for fear of being robbed. He didn't a6-
vertise it because he had no money to pay
for the advertisement, and he didn't read
the papers to see If a reward had been Of
fered simply because neither be nor any
of his family could read. So he hid the
watch in a closet and did nothing at all.
81 examined the watch and saw that 1t
was lady's watch and valuable. On the
inside of the case was engraved a date
and the name Sarah Matilda Shreve.'
Here was cew. What do you want
me to do with this?' asked. He replied
that was to find the owner and return
the watch with or without a reward, and
he seemed actually grateful as | carried
it away.
"When | returned to my office got out
the directory and wrote letter to every
Shreve in the city, about half-dozen,
detailing the circumstances and asking
| for Sarah Matilda. The next day l got
| a letter from Shreve telling me that the
owner of the watch was the wife of a
| tominent citizen-never mind his name
land lived at 18th and Pine. That after
| rbon called on the lady. told my story,
| jnd she identified the watch beyond
Question and told how she lost it in COM
Lg from Broad street station.
"She was gratified at its recovery and
surprised when she heard where it had
teen for a year, and am happy to say
that her gratitude did not stop at words.
The next day she called to see my pa
tient aud left liberal present behind her,
and she has been a regular caller ever
since. The result is that my man is get
ting well, and it looks now as if his mod
est future was assured.